Lateral forces are a good reason to not use those drum attachments on your DP. Light pressure probably doesn't cause much harm, but I've always been concerned about pushing too hard.

Another reason that I don't like the DP attachment is that there's no vertical movement so you get lines in whatever you're sanding.

I got the Ridgid Oscillating Spindle Sander a few years ago and tossed all of my DP drums. The OSS is far and away a better way to go.

 

I'll second the Ridgid OS sander. It is one of the better ones that I have used.

 

Hi
I don't post much just like to watch and learn but I wanted to try to help you out! I ordered/bought a pneumatic 3×9 drum from Industrial Abrasives in Reading PA. It comes with a metal strap that has a hole and is clamped to the drill press table. That had too much slop so I found a 1/4 Miniature Side Flange Bearing (Mounted Bearing) on Amazon and it was heaven!

I have the Ridgid OSS and it is a fine machine but I make large band saw boxes and the Rigid is way to short. The pneumatic drum from industrial abrasives with that bearing saves me days of work! The bearing fit perfectly and there is zero side to side play on the drum. I put a bit of grease in it and it works very, very well!!! Good luck!

 

It is an absolute false myth that the bearings in a drill press will not stand up to lateral stress. If you turn that spindle 90 degrees … put a 3 HP motor on one end and a toothed steel plate on the other … you have a table saw !!! Same bearing series, different size.

If you ever disassemble a drill press for a rebuild or restoration, you will soon see just how unfounded that seemingly perpetual rumor really is.

 

It may be a myth but I took out a cheaper drill press bearing quickly by doing that for no more than maybe 10 hours of use. Now it's a sander, because it no longer will hold tolerance until I get around to changing the bearing. I'm sure my 50 year old Rockwell could put up with it, but after ruining the other drill press I bought the Rigid sander back in 2002, (still running fine), but got tired of changing back and forth between the belt unit and spindles, so I picked up the HF spindle sander recently on sale. Takes the same size wheels as the Rigid, and my only complaint is when I put my vacuum on it the little holes in the plastic table inserts tend to restrict the wood from moving due to vacuum. Roars like a banshee, but I got a lot of hours on it already, and it runs fine.
I have two boxes full of those drill press chucks and sanding cylinders, never use them anymore.

 

I like that pneumatic drum…. larger than I need and more expensive than I can spring for today…

Has any one tried this one Lee Valley?

That mounted on a 3" drum might just do the trick.

 

I forgot to add… Another trick I use is to turn a dowel down on the lathe and then slide over a piece of foam over that (make sure its very snug). Foam from swimming noodles works very well! On top of that I wrap a standard piece of sandpaper with rubber bands at each end. Cost pennies and you would be surprised how well it works!

 

I like the way you think GB…

I actually work for a company that fabricates packaging foam…. and I'll bet I could do something creative with foam, threaded rod and a couple nylocks. Or better yet, a long hex bolt that is not fully threaded…. Hmmm.

 

Thanks! I wish I would have thought of the foam thing prior to buying the drum! Oh well, I now keep 80 grit on the DP drum and switch to finer grits on the foam (drum if you will) on the lathe. These two tools take sanding saw marks off of a box from a day to just a few minutes!